An £8m flagship sports and leisure complex will open in Thornton Heath, south London next month (May).

Funded by Croydon Council along with £2.8m of lottery money from Sport England, the complex has been developed as part of a public/private partnership with Parkwood Leisure who will manage the facility.

The centre, which has been project managed by TPS Schal over the last 24 months, replaces the area’s municipal baths and includes a 60-station fitness studio.

Many machines allow for wheelchair access and there is also a studio for up to 50 people.

Other facilities include a 25m, six lane deck-level pool with disabled access and diving blocks plus a smaller pool in its own glass-walled surrounds with blinds to provide privacy for cultural and ethnic groups requiring it.

There is also four-court sports hall for badminton, five-a-side football and basketball, a café and a crèche.

The complex also offers a Healthy Living Centre and local people are currently being consulted on which health-related activities and services they want included at the centre, which is being run by Croydon Voluntary Action.

As well as Croydon’s Active Lifestyles programme these could include: cardiac rehabilitation; smoking cessation advice; counselling services; massage and reflexology; healthy eating; debt advice; cultural activities and information about council services.

Membership of the facility will cost £34.50 per month.

Croydon’s cabinet member for culture and sport, Councillor Stuart Collins, said the complex is the best facility of its kind in the borough.

“By combining the most modern sports and recreational amenities with the Healthy Lifestyle Centre we are helping people enrich their lives through a sensible approach to fitness, eating and other lifestyle issues,” he said.